How Long To Cook A Hard Boiled Egg?

Hard boiled eggs are a breakfast staple in many homes and a popular addition to different dishes. The term, boiled, however, can be misleading since the correct way to boil an egg is not to cook it in boiling water but in simmering water instead. To get perfect results with a tender egg white and golden yellow yolks, consider how long to cook a hardboiled egg the following ways. Whether it is a single egg or numerous eggs that you want to make, how long it takes to cook hardboiled eggs will take the same amount of time. For multiple eggs, start by placing the eggs in a pan sizable enough to hold all eggs in one layer without overlapping. Pour enough cold water to submerge the eggs completely and over by one inch.

Set the stove to high heat until a rolling boiling is reached. Once boiling, remove the pan from heat and cover. At this stage, how long it takes to cook a hardboiled egg will depend on the egg size. For instance, leave the eggs standing in simmering water for about nine minutes for medium eggs, twelve minutes for large and fifteen minutes or so for extra large eggs. When done, the yolk will be completely solid, light yellow in appearance and crumbly, minus the green ring.

How long to cook hard boiled eggs on stove

Drain instantly and serve warm. If eggs are to be used later then cool them completely and refrigerate for later use.

The reason this is done in hot water and not boiling water is because how long it takes to cook a hardboiled egg in boiling water can crack the shell and make the egg tough and rubbery. A simmer, however, works much better.

Soft boiled and medium boiled eggs can also be prepared using the same method, but cooking times will vary. For instance, to get soft boiled eggs, leave the eggs in simmering water for two minutes only. The result should be a solid white but a runny yolk. This type of egg can be served in an egg cup by cracking open the pointed end of the egg. Make a hole in the shell large enough to fit the spoon and enjoy.

For medium boiled eggs, leave the egg in the hot water for about four and a half minutes where the yolk turns solid but is still moist and dense in the middle. Medium boiled eggs can be halved or quartered easily when served.

How long to cook hardboiled eggs in the microwave

Believe it or not, but eggs of all varieties can also be prepared in the microwave. To get perfect results on how long to cook a hardboiled egg this way, fill a bowl with enough water to cover the egg completely. Microwave this for about three minutes until hot. Gently prick the egg shell with a sharp end object like a safety pin. This is very important in the microwave method as the egg will explode if the shell remains intact.

Put the egg in the bowl with the heated water and close with a lid. Microwave at half power for about four minutes. To make sure that the yolk turns firm, keep the egg in the water for another two minutes before peeling. It is important to consider that how long it takes to cook a hardboiled egg using this method is very dependent on the correct temperature. If the temperature in the microwave is too high, then the egg will definitely explode.

Can you overcook a hardboiled egg?

The unappealing discoloration which can sometimes occur around the yolks of hardboiled eggs happens from a reaction among the iron in the yolks and the sulfur in the egg whites. It happens when eggs have been boiled at too high a temperature or for too long.

If left for too long on the stove the eggs will overcook yielding dry whites, hard yolks and that distinct green ring around the yolk.

Tips on how long to successfully cook a hardboiled egg

The main focus of how long it takes to cook a hardboiled egg in hot water is to bring the water to a full boil in this cooking technique and immediately remove the pan from the heat. This allows the eggs to cook gently in the hot water. The result is getting tender and not rubbery eggs with shells that will not break into bits when cracked open.

Also, how long it takes to cook a hardboiled egg in hot water the correct way will get rid of the greenish ring around the yolk. Once cooked, immediately place in cold water to cool and minimize the formation of the ring.

Peeling the eggs

While it is not rocket science, peeling hard boiled eggs can often leave a mess behind. Far too many times, the shell can crumble into a million pieces with the whites clinging stubbornly, yielding a stubbly and unsightly egg.This can be somewhat prevented by using eggs that have been let to age for a while. Extremely fresh eggs may be challenging to peel while old eggs gradually lose moisture through the pores in their shells.

To make sure that eggs are peeled easily, purchase them and refrigerate for at least 12 days in before cooking. Hard boiled eggs are easiest to peel right after cooling as the cooling process aids in contracting the egg slightly in the shell.

To peel a hardboiled egg, softly tap the egg on countertop until the shell gets delicately cracked all over. Roll the egg between hands to slacken the shell and begin peeling at the large end. If you hold the egg under cold water, it can help ease the shell off.

With the shell intact, hardboiled eggs can be stored for up to a week. It is recommended to do this in the original egg carton as this will stop odor absorption of any sort. Once eggs have been peeled, they should be used the same day.